Thrown out of the house, the wet nurse enters the noble household and becomes a person of high statu

Liu Wenying walked over with a smile, meeting everyone's gaze.

Jichuan, nestled in Granny Wang's arms, stared wide-eyed, his little hands reaching out and grabbing at the air.

"Come here, let Mommy hold you." Liu Wenying reached out and took the child.

As soon as I held him in my arms, Jichuan's little mouth twitched and he burst into tears.

"Oh dear, what's wrong?" Granny Tian hurried over.

Liu Wenying touched the bottom of the swaddling clothes, both amused and exasperated: "It's wet."

Granny Tian: "Quickly, find a diaper! Can someone bring me a clean one?"

The two men at the table stood up at the same time.

Pei Zeyu and Xue Bi, one on each side, pulled out a neatly folded... diaper from their pockets.

It's unclear when they prepared it, but they were exceptionally thoughtful.

"I'll do it," Pei Zeyu said, extending his hand.

"Let me do it; I'm more skilled," Xue Bi said.

The two stared at each other, their eyes flashing with sparks.

Ignoring their argument, Liu Wenying gently placed the child on a cushioned chair next to her.

The two men immediately surrounded the baby, one unwrapping the swaddling clothes and the other handing over warm water, their movements both skillful and experienced, neither willing to give way to the other.

Pei Zeyu had just finished wiping the baby's bottom when Xue Bi rushed to put on a diaper.

Xue Bi had just fastened the belt when Pei Zeyu insisted on checking its tightness.

Ji Chuan stopped crying and watched them busy with her big eyes, occasionally giggling.

Everyone in the courtyard couldn't help but laugh.

After finally getting dressed, Liu Wenying reached out to hug her, but Granny Wang said:

"Master, you've been busy all day, take a break. Let this old servant carry you."

"Granny has been tired all afternoon, if she really wants someone else to carry her..."

Liu Wenying turned her head, her gaze sweeping across the table before suddenly landing on a corner.

Lu Ye was quietly peeling a crab, intending to serve it to someone else later, when he noticed someone staring at him and looked up.

"Let Lu Ye handle it!" Liu Wenying said with a smile.

Lu Ye was surprised, but the next moment Ji Chuan was already being shoved into his arms by Liu Wenying with a smile.

Lu Ye froze, completely stunned. He had never held such a small, soft little dumpling before.

Lu Ye was tall and had a strong chest, and Ji Chuan felt quite at ease nestled in his arms.

The little head rested against his chest, its bright black eyes gazing curiously at him.

There was no poisoned wine, and she grinned, revealing an innocent and childlike smile.

Her smile was pure and innocent, and the little dumpling in her arms was as soft as a freshly steamed glutinous rice cake.

Even the usually silent Lu Ye was affected, and the corners of his mouth curved upwards.

Shanqing wagged its tail and came closer, its fluffy head rubbing against Liu Wenying's skirt before sniffing Jichuan in Lu Ye's arms.

Suddenly, Luo Luo reached out her little hand and haphazardly touched the wolf's head. Shan Qing, tamed and docile, was not angry and made a comfortable purring sound in its throat.

"Alright, alright, everyone sit down and eat! If you don't eat now, these autumn crabs will get cold and won't taste good!"

Liu Wenying greeted everyone.

Everyone laughed and took their seats.

Pei Yaojun picked out the fattest female crab for her.

Wen Jingshu served a bowl of steaming hot chicken soup.

Pei Zeyu and Xue Bi were arguing again about whose crab meat was more intact.

Pei Dingxuan gently advised them to stop arguing and to eat and drink well.

Just as everyone was about to raise their glasses to celebrate the festival.

"Imperial edict has arrived!"

The laughter that filled the courtyard came to an abrupt halt.

Everyone stood up, and Liu Wenying took Jichuan back into her arms before walking into the courtyard with the others.

In the glow of the sunset, a palace attendant dressed in palace attire held a bright yellow scroll, followed by two imperial guards.

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: It is found that the Pei family of the Duke of Yuguo's mansion has been loyal to the Emperor and patriotic, and has made meritorious contributions for generations."

Previously framed by the rebellious emperor Xiao Chenlin and unjustly accused, now that the rebellious emperor has been executed, the truth has come to light.

The title of Duke of Yu is hereby restored, retaining the rank of First-Rank Duke, and his mansion and land are returned to him, as a sign of his loyalty and righteousness.

The Duke of Yu was deeply shaken, and tears streamed down his face.

Madam Pei supported him, tears streaming down her face.

Supported by Fourth Sister, Old Madam Pei murmured, "Heaven protects, Heaven protects..."

The eunuch continued reading: "General Pei Yaojun, after a joint investigation by the Three Departments, has been found to have committed treason, and is now released without charge. His official position and rank are restored, and he is also granted a thousand taels of gold as a reward for his loyalty."

Duke Yu and Pei Yaojun both received the imperial decree.

"Rise, Duke Yu, General Pei."

The eunuch offered them a helping hand.

After the imperial edict was read out, everyone was immersed in the joy of the Pei family's injustice being redressed.

Liu Wenying also stood up with a smile, and first firmly supported her elbow with one hand.

She looked up and met a pair of smiling eyes, the corners of which had that familiar drooping shape.

Xiao Yiheng stood in the afterglow of the sunset, dressed in a brocade robe with very faint cloud patterns embroidered in silver thread on the collar and sleeves.

His features remained handsome, but he possessed a more composed and dignified air than before.

A smile played on her lips, a smile that was warm and gentle, but deep within her eyes lay a still, profound pool.

After more than a month apart, Xiao Yiheng exuded the air of an emperor in every move he made.

"Your Majesty? What brings you here?"

"On this Mid-Autumn Festival, a day for family reunion, I come to pray for a happy reunion. I hope the Master won't mind?"

The courtyard fell silent upon noticing Xiao Yiheng's arrival.

The Duke of Yu was the first to react, and hurriedly tried to kneel: "This old minister was unaware of Your Majesty's arrival..."

Xiao Yiheng raised his hand in a gesture of support, "Duke Yu, you need not stand on ceremony. Today, we are not bound by the distinction between ruler and subject, but only by our old friendship."

Then, he looked at Liu Wenying, his smile deepening, "What, you really dislike me?"

Liu Wenying chuckled, "Your Majesty, please don't tease me. Who would dare to dislike the current Emperor?"

After entering the palace, Xiao Yiheng produced the late emperor's edict, proving that his actions were legitimate and that no one in the court or among the people disagreed.

His actions after ascending the throne were completely different from Xiao Chenlin's; he was gentle, rectified the chaos, and restored order to the court.

It was precisely because of this that he was able to leave the palace with minimal entourage less than a month after the palace coup, and had the leisure and inclination to come to this suburban estate of the capital to seek a reunion and join in the festivities.

He is now truly alone; his father is gone, his mother died young, his brothers are fighting each other, and his harem is empty.

In the vast palace, there wasn't even anyone to spend the Mid-Autumn Festival with him.

Liu Wenying's heart softened, and she turned around and ordered someone to bring over another carved chair.

Xiao Yiheng did not refuse, and sat down with a smile, sitting side by side with Pei Dingxuan, Pei Zeyu and others, without any airs of an emperor.

The autumn crabs on the table were fresh, and the osmanthus wine was fragrant. Everyone raised their glasses, chatted and laughed.

The banquet ended close to midnight.

The figures were scattered, and the cups and plates were in disarray. The villagers helped clean up, and Madam Pei helped the slightly drunk Duke Yu back to his room, while Fourth Madam helped Old Madam Pei leave.

Liu Wenying picked up Jichuan, while Luoluo and Xiaoya ran off somewhere again, under the pretense of digesting their food.

The three masters of the Pei family, along with Xue Bi and Lu Ye, stayed around her, playing with the child.

Jichuan was hugged by one person and touched by another.

Xiao Yiheng also stretched out his finger and scratched the bridge of his nose.

When he was in a particularly good mood, he took off the dragon-patterned jade pendant from his waist and placed it in Jichuan's hand.

Liu Wenying was taken aback and was about to return it, but Xiao Yiheng said, "Look, Jichuan is holding on tightly, he clearly likes it. Why are you arguing with the child?"

Wen Jingshu walked over, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping herself.

Finally, taking advantage of the moment when Xiao Yiheng went to have tea, she curtsied.

"Your Majesty, I would like to ask you for a favor."

Xiao Yiheng turned to look at her: "You speak."

"Consort Feng, also known as Lin Zhiyao, is my childhood friend. We grew up together and developed a deep bond back in our youth. Knowing that she has been imprisoned, I wish to see her."

Xiao Yiheng hesitated for a moment, then said, "It's not that I don't want to agree, it's just that she's no longer here."

…………